A longtime journalist, communicator, and promoter of the annual Farm Science Review, Suzanne Steel has been inducted into the 30th class of honorees in the FSR Hall of Fame, where 78 others have been honored for their contribution to the event.

For 23 years, Steel worked in the marketing and communications department of the event’s main sponsor, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at Ohio State University. During that time, Steel promoted FSR through contacts with national, state and local media.

FSR will take place this year Sept. 17-19 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 State Route 38 NE, London, Ohio. The show offers visitors an opportunity to view the latest in technology and gain insights from CFAES experts about making their operations more profitable.

“Marketing is extremely important to a large public event such as FSR, which Suzanne has championed over the years,” says Nick Zachrich, FSR manager.

From newspaper to university

Steel was inducted into the FSR Hall of Fame on Aug. 13. Her connection with FSR started in 1991, when she first reported on the event for The Columbus Dispatch as a business reporter. She continued reporting on FSR through 1995, when she joined the CFAES communications staff.

“Steel and her staff wrote news releases, sent media invitations and worked with reporters to ensure coverage of the Review and help draw visitors,” Zachrich says.

National, state and local media responded over the years, including state and national farm publications, weekly and daily newspapers, regional radio stations and national agricultural and local television channels. Steel’s team also worked on marketing campaigns for FSR to attract visitors through advertisements, posters and social media.

“Current and former FSR management appreciate Suzanne’s contributions to promote FSR and highlight it in the media as a signature event of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences,” Zachrich says.

Steel considered FSR an opportunity to shine a light on the many research and outreach successes within the college.

“Year after year, I really enjoyed getting to spend time with reporters and helping them connect with some of the college’s experts,” Steel says. “FSR also gave me the opportunity to learn more about the work of our faculty.”

Now assistant director of Ohio State University Extension Publishing, Steel will, for the first time, be an exhibitor at FSR, showcasing OSU Extension Publishing in the Firebaugh Building on the FSR grounds. A graduate of CFAES with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics, Steel received an Oscar in Agriculture writing award from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting; awards from the National Association of Agricultural Journalists, the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists; and the Association for Communication Excellence, where she served as president from 2017 to 2018.

For tickets or more information about FSR, visit fsr.osu.edu.

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